PKR has offered its strategic director Rafizi Ramli ( below ) to debate Pakatan Rakyat’s 100-day reform plan with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

NONE Earlier Khairy had offered himself up for the task after prime minister Najib Abdul Razak refused opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s challenge to debate the opposition’s plan.

PKR's information chief, Muhammad Nur Manuty explained that Anwar’s invitation was meant for the rakyat to evaluate Najib’s claims that Pakatan’s populist plan would bankrupt the country.

“In tabling our proposal a total of RM19 billion will be spent for the 100-day programme.

“This is a small portion compared to the subsidy paid to the independent power producers, the toll concessionaire and the wastage, leakage and corruption which costs the country RM51 billion every year.”

“Anwar wanted to reveal what Pakatan Rakyat would achieve in doing this, and the offer is still open for Najib to debate.”

Debate rather than confront

Muhammad Nur noted that Khairy has offered to take Najib’s place in the debate challenge and offered a solution.

“In the spirit of discourse, PKR is offering its strategic director to debate against Khairy. Rafizi as a youth leader is on par with Khairy as he is a qualified accountant, who had worked as a senior manager of Petronas and a general manager of Pharmaniaga.

NONE “PKR hopes that Khairy will accept the challenge as a debate between young leaders as a curtain raiser for the debate between Najib and Anwar. We are also hoping, that more intellectual debates will be held for the people to evaluate further,” said Muhammad Nur ( left ).

The PKR information chief quipped that such a practice of engaging in debates is preferable to the burning of books.

On Jan 11 Anwar challenged Najib to a debate on the economy and Pakatan Rakyat's intended reforms, following the prime minister’s attacks calling the opposition plan populist and irresponsible.